Waterloo levy on ballot Tuesday

District seeks approval of 5.9-mill issue to raise $939,557 per year

By Mike sever | staff writer Published: February 3, 2013 4:00 AM

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Waterloo Superintendent Andrew Hill said he's often heard people opposed to a new levy ask "What part of 'no' don't you understand?"

He said he's asking district parents and voters what kind of education they want for their children, because he sees a disconnect between what people want the district to provide and what they're willing to pay for.

In Tuesday's special election, the district is seeking approval of a 5.9-mill, five-year levy to avoid an operating deficit. The emergency operating levy would raise $939,557 per year.

Waterloo voters rejected a 5.0-mill additional levy in November that would have generated about $796,200 annually for five years starting in 2012. District officials had to raise the amount of the levy for this election because the district lost a year of collections.

In the past two years the district, which covers Atwater and Randolph townships in southern Portage County, has cut $2 million out of its budget.

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"Every year we're just dismantling this great program that people worked hard to establish. We're just taking it apart piece by piece," Hill said.

He said budget and program cuts will get the district through the next school year but the current five-year forecast projects a deficit of $324,000 in fiscal year 2015. But, in fiscal year 2016 the deficit grows to $1.46 million and almost $2.9 million the following year.

"It looks like we could get through the next school year without making additional cuts, but once we roll into the following school year, we don't believe we have enough left to cut to erase that deficit. And we definitely don't have enough to erase the larger following deficits," Hill said. "I believe we will quickly go to fiscal emergency because we need solvency assistance" from the state.

"If state minimums are acceptable, then that's where they are headed," Hill said.

Hill said last week's school funding announcement by Gov. John Kasich doesn't look like it's going to save the district from needing the levy. The governor's plan doesn't include any further reductions in state money, he said, but its affect on Waterloo won't be known until the details are revealed.

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"And who knows what it will look like when something finally gets approved" by the Legislature, Hill said.

Budget cuts have led to both teachers and students leaving the district, he said. Teachers are leaving because of concern for their jobs and parents are taking children out because they are looking for higher academic offerings for their children, Hill said.

Further cuts to reach state minimums will affect electives in upper grade levels. For example, the district offers two languages while the state requires only one. Cuts also could mean fewer advanced classes in calculus and math, and cuts in dual credit classes in computers.

"There's nothing left for them to cut. We're out of rabbits we can pull out of the hat," Hill said.

The district has cut busing back to one run each day, instituted "pay-to-play" for sports and extracurricular activities, cut teaching and administrative staff, instituted freezes in base and step pays for teachers and base pay for administrators and changed the employee health plan so members pay a higher percentage of premiums and higher deductibles.

"When you total all those savings up, that's well over $500,000 that these employees have saved for our district. Well over a fourth of the savings in the past two years have come from concessions by employees," Hill said.

"At the end of the day I have faith in this community and faith that they'll do what has to be done," Hill said. He said he had other options, but district officials have done everything they can internally.

"Now it's back in the community's hands to make that decision of what they want the schools to be," Hill said.

District voters may cast ballots from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at their regular polling locations in the Randolph Community Center and Senior Center, 1657 S.R. 44, and the Atwater Town Hall, 1219 S.R. 183.

Waterloo also includes 53 voters in Deerfield A's Split 2 precinct. For this election those voters will vote at the polls for Randolph A, according to Faith Lyon, director of the Portage County Board of Elections.

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anonymous Feb 6, 2013 5:29 AM

It passed! We are Waterloo! My kid's future looks a little brighter this morning! Thank you

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 3:54 PM

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Would you rather have them pay to play or have nothing to play at all?

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 1:59 PM

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Sorry Waterloo you already got your levy by increasing pay to play. I haven't heard anyone say that they will remove pay to play if the levy passes. Maybe that would help pass a levy. It may also bring students back into our district instead of driving them away.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 12:29 PM

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I voted YES! YES! YES! for OUR kids, OUR schools, OUR community, Let's make it count ~ VOTE YES for WATERLOO! WE ARE WATERLOO! THANK YOU. This is a great community and great school, contrary to what other post believe. Thank You School Board and Dr. Hill for everything

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 10:22 AM

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I'm sure they are.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 10:16 AM

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Bye, Bye... Gotta go Vote "NO" on something.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 10:13 AM

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Not so sure about that, but I do believe everyone is catching on to who is no longer in the running.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 10:09 AM

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Whatever you say. We all know, you're the smart one here.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 10:05 AM

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Kozma,Ok I'll try to help you with this one after all it is a rather tuff one to follow, but if you look below at what you posted. typically when one is stating their main concern, it would not be multiple choice & The real shame is what you are pushing and trying to disguise as actual concern for the children. You should be ashamed of yourself.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:50 AM

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It's a shame that you care more about yourself then your children.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:48 AM

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My priorities aren't numbered. I didn't put a number on anything. I'm sure you've paid your dues. Good for you. Keep up that good work.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:38 AM

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Kozma, sorry but in all instances be it residential or commercial I paid quite well.....Also sorry to make you loose it like that..... well maybe that's not totally true. it is rather entertaining and sad at the same time because I know your serious.... Here's a clue which may help you in the future..... when listing your top priority it shouldn't be numbered 1 - 6. Please tell me you didn't graduate form Waterloo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I threw in a few extra exclamation marks because it's rather obvious how much you like them!!!!!!!!!!!! PS as long as you are posting on here I don't think I'll have to stoop to name calling. Some things just speak for themselves.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:36 AM

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When does your teachers contract expire?

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:22 AM

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Redleg6, I think it's funny if you think that's what is going to happen!! You're also not very educated on this issue either, are you???

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:19 AM

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I thought the administration folks where educators also. I think the mix-up is the Board & the Administration (these folks that represent the people) are non union, and the union (teachers) are the educators. Do you have to be a union member to be considered an educator?

NANA56 Show me in my post where I called anyone names. I am sure if the levy passes, all your troubles will be over at Waterloo until the union contract expires. However, the system is broken, we need to get the dead heads in Columbus to fix the system. The union is bankrupting the schools! Vote yes on the levy, the teachers need a raise.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:14 AM

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I can't believe I just stooped to your level!! You're pathetic!!

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:14 AM

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JustaThought you are an IDIOT!!! Yes I am name calling now because that's all you've been doing this entire time. Telling people they are stupid because You think what you are saying makes any kind of sense at all. You don't flipping get it. You're worried about your taxes???????? They will be higher if the state comes in Moron!! You should be ashamed of yourself. If you are the person who lives behind me in that big fancy house that isn't even yours, I sure hope you never need a free electrician again!! Or maybe a ride home from getting your car worked on because your girlfriend won't do. If you're that guy, you aren't very smart!! Have a nice day!! The kids, community, the School, the teachers my housing value!! Thats all my main concern. Get your facts straight!!

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:10 AM

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Sorry "community action committee" the words out and people will be there to vote.... I'm that wasn't part of your plan.

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 9:05 AM

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Sorry, read further down to see the real ckozma and her real motivation............... Kids and community sure arent in the number one position..................................

Good luck citizens and taxpayers. Lets tell them again, eventually it may sink in. Sorry it's still "NO"

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 8:44 AM

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Vote YES!!! Do it for the community, the kids and the school!! These kids are the future!! They need this more than anything!! Please get out and vote YES!!

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 8:12 AM

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@JustaThought.....I wanted to clarify something.....the "person" who lumped the Board of Education and Administrators into the "educators" category was RedLeg6, NOT ME! I do know the difference, but thanks for pointing it out anyhow. Please read the posts of others carefully, and don't simply extrapolate the message that you want construed. I think it would be comical (if it wasn't so sad) that you and RedLeg6 have the audacity to accuse others of name calling! Wow, can you say "pot/kettle"? Good luck Waterloo! Again, I hope for the sake of your students and community that your levy passes!

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 6:19 AM

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Get out and VOTE today 2/5. Polls open at 6:30am & close at 7:30pm. Please pick a reason (kids, school, community, property values,because someone did it for me) we don't mind which one you use !! Let's make it count ~ VOTE YES for WATERLOO! WE ARE WATERLOO! THANK YOU to those that already cast their ballots with a YES vote!

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anonymous Feb 5, 2013 5:53 AM

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VOTE "NO" TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 6:32 PM

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I never said stop the busses. Pay attention. I asked you if you wanted them to stop the busses. I would never suggest that and I did say it saved them money. Wow!! Have a great night, neighbor!

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 5:32 PM

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If we cant afford those teachers there are many,many more out there looking for work, most of which are young and are very up to date on all the latest technology which they need to be in order to teach it to our children. Sorry but I think many of those out there looking would actually be excellent teachers. Also there are only so many positions open.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 5:16 PM

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Thus why you come across as more of a pro-teacher person rather than pro-student and education. Stop the buses, you sound even more like a teachers union member. No, cutting the busing actually costs the district money. I must say your last 2 comments say an awful lot about you. if you had been listening you would also know the cafeteria is actual turning a profit for the school. As for being the lowest paid in portage county. Boo-hew, cry me a river. Next week it will be Field's teachers or Southeast's or someone else claiming the same thing. You arent really as dense as your coming across right now are you?

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 4:58 PM

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Those teachers and staff still have families to support! Do you want them to leave and go work somewhere they can get paid what they should get paid??? That would help!! In my opinion, there is no job that is more important than a teacher!! They are way underpaid as it is.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 4:55 PM

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Well good for you!!! You have that right!! It's a very solid YES for me!! I have 2 kids in that school system and I want the best possible education for them. Sorry if you don't agree. I don't know where you want them to make the cuts????? They already made cuts to the staff. My son already has 30 kids in his class. If they have to make more cuts, that number could go up to the mid 30s. You don't get the same education that way. If you are educated, you should know that. The pay to play fees are already sky high. They went to one bus route that saved a ton of money doing so. Do you want them to stop the busses all together??? That's safe for the kids!!! Where else??? Maybe cut lunch??? So that child only eating that one meal a day doesn't have anything to eat at all now? I just don't get your point. Maybe that's what I am saying. You. Don't.Make.Sense!!! You can't cut the salaries of the teachers. They already are one of the lowest paid schools in Portage county. What else do you want from them????

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 4:42 PM

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kozma, you say what I am suggesting would not help??? if you are not going to look at what is eating up the lions share of the current funding, then just where would a highly educated person such as yourself suggest we do look. And if I saw this was being properly addressed I can assure you I would be far more likely to vote for a levy if still needed....But......As things stand. it's a very solid "NO"

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 4:28 PM

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Oh, I was there. I thought Janet and John did quite well. I thanked them both for coming. I dropped them each a note the next day thanking them again as well and told them again I was proud of the way they stuck to the truth. If you were there you may have noticed the answers they gave to the questions did not exactly side with the feelings of levy committee. I just loved the look on the face of that poor lady asking the questions it was like "why did we ever think this would help us?" It was classic.....

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 4:15 PM

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itsjustme, you are correct I was wrong you did nothing more than condone such poor behavior by others you agreed with. You are clearly a much better person than they.....I am sorry!...........................................

As for red, he has shown me nothing but respect and appears to be more a thinker and leader rather than a follower. Surly you see nothing wrong with that? The world already has far to many sheeple.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 4:13 PM

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If you want to talk about the way people are talking to each other on here maybe you should look at yourself. Someone who brings up someone's family as in my husband should be ashamed of yourself. Like I said before, you don't know me, you don't know my husband and you now you never will. Sad!! Also, If you would have been at the funding meeting last month, it was no where near being a levy pep rally. The Portage County Auditor was there, 2 state representatives, a board member from the Ohio State board of Education (from Columbus). They actually explained what exactly will happen if the state comes in. Its not a good thing. Your taxes, my taxes and all the neighbors taxes will go up ALOT more!! However, if that is what you want then so be it. They don't have any positions left to cut!! They aren't working with much! Maybe that's the meeting you should've been at!! what you are suggesting will not fix the problem at all. Not sure how you could even think that.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 3:51 PM

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Why is it that if someone has a differing opinion regarding exactly what the problem is and or possible ways forward towards correcting that problem, that you feel they are the ones which don't understand, don't see, are uneducated, are mad at the school, and the list goes on and on...... I will be honest with you, I always try to keep an open mind. I always try to listen and learn. I will be doing so until the day I die...... I am not afraid to admit when shown I am wrong and yes, due to my job I am given plenty of opportunities to make errors during the course of a day. Anyone who is in a position where they have to make decisions and says they don't make mistakes is either a lair, a fool or both........ Have you taken the time to set down and discus the actual options forward and I don't mean at a pep rally for the levy I mean with someone which can explain a differing view? When I enter into a discussion regarding this problem I do so knowing full well that compromise on my part may be required and if it would help actually fix the problem I am more than willing will do so. But when the person with the differing opinion has nothing more that name calling and such what is one to do....... You cant have an adult conversation and try to reason something out with someone acting like that...... You say all I am doing is hurting the children I say you are hurting your neighbors and doing nothing but kicking this problem down the road for someone else to have to deal with and ultimately doing a great disservice to the children and your community..... As for being neighborly, You have know idea what all I do to help those I can in our community but I can assure you that you are very wrong concerning that.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 3:50 PM

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Just a thought: You might want to re-read what I said. My comment wasn't full of hate, wasn't meant to be. I asked redleg to apologize for using, what I consider, to be foul language regarding his PS to Nana56 in an earlier post. So now because I am saying that he is negative on these forums means I am full of hate. Just the opposite my pal. If Redleg is entitled to say what he/she wants to on these forums, so can we. Just because someone is telling it like it is regarding their perception of every post Redleg puts on these RC forums, does not constitute hate. Hate is defined as: intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury. And I am far from feeling any of this toward people I don't even know.

Redleg: I'm not asking people to conform to my way of thinking or the way of others on this forum. I am simply asking them to think twice about what is happening to the education system in this country. It's spiraling out of control. You know it, I know it, everyone on this forum and in this community knows is. So why can't we all just work together to fix it rather than bashing one another when we don't even know each other? That, my friend, is how we need to get along, not by stating opinion for fact or that bullying begins in the home and all that. I am far from a bully, just very opinionated on how I feel about certain topics, this one included.

Thank you.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 2:10 PM

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Oh you do huh?? You're my neighbor????? You're absolutely right about my husband being a nice guy. He is the nicest guy!! Let me ask you this, do your children attend Waterloo??? If so, why wouldn't you want them to get the best possible education????? That's what I'm not understanding. Even if you are mad at the school because you think they don't do things the way you would do them, the only person you are hurting is your own child and the children of your neighbors. I do know now that you are not so neighborly and my nice husband won't be so nice anymore!!

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 2:01 PM

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Well neighbor, bet you I do?... and as to your question yes, I have children.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 1:51 PM

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JustaThought, you don't know me or my husband!!!! You think you do just like you think you know everything. However, in all reality, you know nothing at all!! Do you have kids???

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 12:48 PM

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Justa; I've made the same mistake, just recently. I am a product of Crestwood. And according to some of the folks that leave posts, I am an uneducated man! In there eye's we would be smart and educated if we would think the way they think, believe what they believe, vote the way they vote, do as they say, if we did all that, and fall into line, we would be among the smartest, brightest, nicest, most repected folks in the community. But if you like to form, and state your own opinions, get ready for Hate, Intolerance, Name Calling, and Insults.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 12:10 PM

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oops....

Sorry Red, I misread your comment. Poor reading comprehension go figure, and a product of the Waterloo School System too. Maybe I am uneducated after all.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 11:09 AM

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Hey red. look closer and ease up a bit.. that wasn't me with all the hate.......that was itsjustme...... and by the way to all you kind soles out there, I've been to many of the meetings. not all but far, far more than most. Definitely more than ckozma. I have pretty much come to the conclusion it is a waste of time and effort. They don't want to hear what I have to say and I never cared much for pep rallies when in school and I don't like them any more now........and by the way ckozma, Your husband always came across like a really nice person sure is strange how opposites attract isn't it.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 9:21 AM

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justa thought: WOW!! your hated. Just because someone make a comment that doesn't conform with the pro levy folks way of thinking, these upstanding citizens; ckozma wrote "I hate people like you that have NO idea what the **** you are even talking about"***Nana56 wrote, "@Redleg6.Have we told you lately how sick we are of your comments?"...Hiram wrote; "The redlegs of the world are just insignificant little people with loud mouths. Pay them no attention". WOW, HATE, Intolerance, Name Calling. All signs of trying to bully folks on this forum. Appearently they didn't go to the Waterloo Community bulling seminar. If the adults try to bully people on the RC, what example do they set for their kids at home? Bulling starts in the home from mom & dad. The comments stated were made to bully people with opposing views. Nana56, Hiram,& ckozma, this is for you, taken from RC article 1/8/13, Waterloo Bulling Seminar "We want parents to be clear on what actually constitutes bullying," Hill said. "That word gets thrown around so much."

According to the Ohio Revised Code, bullying is "any intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once."

The behavior must "cause mental or physical harm" that "is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for another student," the ORC states.

The ORC clarifies electronic bullying as "an act committed through the use of a cellular telephone, computer, pager, personal communication device or other electronic communication device."

I know it says student, but if you put the word person in there, it is the same. Bulling is the same, young or old. I am a big boy and your words don't bother me. It's just an observation. If the parents,(adult) is full of hate and intolerance, so will the children be, because the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. Justa thought from

Redleg6

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 8:37 AM

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Ckozma, Hiram, MHT84 and Nana56: Well said! Thank you for those comments. I agree with all of them.

Nana56: I'm appalled at what Redleg said to you. Shows how much 'education' he/she has!

For Justathought: I am not on the levy committee nor the board, I am a citizen in this school district who happens to care about the future of this morally declining country. Having said that, I am concerned that the great U.S. as I once knew it is being flushed down the toilet because of what divides this country, tax levies included. Our children are the future and until everyone in this country comes together to support education, we will continue to see more educational decline. Not only that, but then we see property value drop because no one will want to move into the area because of a declining school district. Is that what you want? Do you want our country to continue in this path? The people on the Waterloo school board do have business backgrounds and they are all successful business people.

Redleg6: you need to be reported! I can't believe that that the RC is allowing your posts to stay on this forum! Your comment to Nana 56 is uncalled for. You are obviously someone with too much time on your hands passing off opinion for fact. And I'm not talking about just Waterloo and this forum, you do it EVERYWHERE here on the RC. You have nothing positive to say about any school district or its children. I agree with Nana 56 that we need to just ignore you but before I do ignore you, I had to tell you what I think of your posts. Their disgraceful! You owe Nana56 and our Ohio politicians an apology for the comment. Just disgusting! Why don't you get some education yourself so you can have a more intelligent conversation on this forum?

To Dr. Hill: you are doing a FANTASTIC job with this school district. My fear is that you will leave. Keep up the good work! I'm proud to have you as our superintendent.Your communication to the parents and community is to be commended! You do everything it takes to keep everyone in your school district informed. We are blessed to have you.

To the teachers and administration at Waterloo: thank you for your continued sacrifices that you are making for our children. It is very evident by those sacrifices that you are truly in the profession of teaching to educate and not just for the money. If the latter were the case, then I think many of you would have left a long time ago. Thank you!

Thank you.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 8:02 AM

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P.S. I'm not on any committee i'm just a resident with 2 kids in school.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 8:00 AM

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I can't stand uneducated people like JustaThought!! Have you been to a meeting??? Have you been given ALL the information regarding this??? Probably not!! If the state comes in and takes over, they will lend the school money to keep operating. However, do you know who has to pay that back??? You!! Not 15 dollars a month either. It will be much more. It's not a good thing. You also think Waterloo is not doing things efficiently?? If you would've been at the funding meeting there was a representative there from the ohio state board of education. He also said what a GREAT JOB Waterloo has done with what they have. Get educated before you start running your mouth about things you have no idea about. Let me ask you a question. Could you survive off a salary from 1995 today? No?? Well that's what Waterloo is doing. they haven't passed an operating levy since 1995!!!!! We are lucky more teachers and students haven't left. Those teachers make less then most in portage county. They are amazing and so is Andy Hill. Get a clue. do you have kids??? You do realize education is the most important thing right? You do realize these kids are YOUR future right??? I hate people like you that have NO idea what the **** you are even talking about

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 7:31 AM

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nana56,...I see you combine the board in with the other administrative staff together and refer to them as educators. Sorry but the local school board is in no way supposed to be educators. It does not fall within their job function. If any board members feel that is their function they signed up for the wrong job. The people on the board should be looking at the business end of this equation. A good "Business" background should be what you are looking for in electing someone to the board. Actually I would think someone with a background in education would exactly who I would NOT place on a school board. As long as Waterloo has known this problem was looming, and it's been a while. Any board member worth a hoot would have seen this coming and started trying to reduce their contract commitments years ago.

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anonymous Feb 4, 2013 6:37 AM

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Vote 'NO' Tues, FEB 5th

By the way it sure isn't hard to see which ones on here are on the levy committee.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 4:09 PM

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Nana56... What is your answer to the funding problems? I gave you mine. The system is broke! The people are going broke! Be mad at the politicans that this Educational system produced, and fix the problem. We have the best and brightest, the highly Educated in Columbus, and they haven't solved the problem in over 15 years. But ask state elected officals, they all say they are for the kids. Right, the kids are the pawns. If they cared about the kids, they would have changed the funding years ago. Glad the enema worked. Maybe Columbus could use one?

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 3:48 PM

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Hello Hiram! I agree with you wholeheartedly. I try, but it's difficult sometimes to ignore someone who is obviously so sad and miserable. Thought maybe some type of intelligent interaction would help. He is in such desperate need of attention that even negative responses to his rants are better to him than no attention at all. As I said.....so very sad. I do however have one point to make to Redleg6.....you keep harping on the unconstitutionality of school funding, yet in another post you blame the school boards and administrations. They are at the mercy of the funding laws in the State of Ohio. You said, "It is the circle of insanity, and these folks are educators?" Actually, NO the circle of insanity is not caused by the educators. Do you really believe that school administrators and boards actually enjoy going back to the taxpayers periodically to beg for money that they already are working with and then also having to ask for more because of State mandates? Since YOU (Redleg6) seem to have so much time on your hands, why don't YOU get involved. Become educated regarding how the funding actually works and then run for the school board! That would be interesting! You obviously have all of the answers because NOTHING anybody does satisfies you!!! OK....I'm done. Go ahead and make your snide comments. YOU are the only one with any answers. PLEASE reveal yourself to everyone in Portage County and we will let you FIX all that ails us since you know everything about everyone and every profession.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 3:00 PM

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The redlegs of the world are just insignificant little people with loud mouths. Pay them no attention.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 2:36 PM

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Did the Ohio Supreme Court rule that the current system to fund schools by levies, (property taxes) is UNCONSTITUTIONAL? Yes or No? Instead of being mad @Redleg6, you should be mad at your state officials. I didn't create the UNCONSTITUTIONAL system of school funding, the highly Educated, elected officials did. Call Rep. Clyde & Sen. Eklund, perhaps Portage County Commissioner Chandler, she was in Columbus for a long time. Ask why they haven't complied with the Supreme Courts decision. The Ohio Supreme Court on March 24, 1997, Justice Francis E. Sweeney wrote for the 4-3 majority: By our decision today, we send a clear message to lawmakers: The time has come to fix the system. Let there be no misunderstanding. Ohios public school-financing scheme must undergo a complete systematic overhaul. Get the Democrats/Repulicans to fix the problem. Have the teacher from Waterloo that teaches government,have her/him explain what the word UNCONSTITUTIONAL means. I assume you still teach American/Ohio history and Government/Civics. If not ask the English teacher to explain it to you.#### PS to Nana56, I am very sorry my comments make you sick, perhaps an ice water Enema would help unclog your brain.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 1:32 PM

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If anyone has any questions regarding, current/future of state funding or property values, I urge you to view the 2hr community forum held on January 14th. Includes County Auditor Janet Esposito, Senator Eklund, State Rep Kathleen Clyde, plus more. You can view this at www.wearewaterloo.org and if I am not mistaken "justathought" was in attendance, the TEA "joke" party was in attendance, and we all heard the same thing. Bottom line this is NO longer a state issue, it is a district issue and not just for Waterloo but for ALL districts in OHIO. The State even says on more than occasion that OUR School Board and Dr. Hill have done an EXCELLENT job with the funding/budgeting at Waterloo schools. I am so frustrated with excuses, or the school board is not doing their jobs, the Superintendent is wasting money, yet I have not seen any of these people come up with an idea, suggestion or even attend school board meetings and give suggestions. For you narrow minded people thinking that its a good idea to let the state take over THINK AGAIN a 5 mill or 5.9 mill levy will be peanuts to what we will have to payback, lets go ahead and have the state take over borrow thousands and we still must place levys on the ballot to pay it back, maybe at 10, 15 or 20mills and theres minimal left to cut at our schools. STATE mandates you must have X amount of teachers, X amount of classes, and that the doors MUST remain open at whatever costs. You say lets merge with another school OKAY Great, that school district must vote and approve of any merger. WHAT school district in their right mind would approve to take on someone elses debt and still maintain State requirements for their own district? Its not going to happen... I ask that everyone be PROPERLY informed before you start throwing out RUMORS, LIES, and MISINFORMATION, this Community MEMBER is and we will get this levy passed. WE ARE WATERLOO and Im voting YES AND ALWAYS WILL SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. HILL. THANK YOU !!!

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 1:27 PM

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Waterloo Schools is SO VERY FORTUNATE to have Andy Hill as superintendent! @GramWisdom3, FarmerMom, and SRM77....don't pay ANY attention to the comments made here by Redleg6. This person posts negative comments about EVERY school district! Redleg6 will also NOT be voting on the Waterloo levy. I am hoping that your levy passes for the good of your community and students! Intelligent folks know the value of a quality education.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 1:27 PM

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Waterloo Schools is SO VERY FORTUNATE to have Andy Hill as superintendent! @GramWisdom3, FarmerMom, and SRM77....don't pay ANY attention to the comments made here by Redleg6. This person posts negative comments about EVERY school district! Redleg6 will also NOT be voting on the Waterloo levy. I am hoping that your levy passes for the good of your community and students! Intelligent folks know the value of a quality education.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 1:22 PM

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@Redleg6....Have we told you lately how sick we are of your comments? You are just a grumpy person with nothing positive to say about anything!!! You are also so MISINFORMED and UNINFORMED. However, attempting to "educate" a person like you would be pointless. As the old saying goes......it's difficult to match "wits" with an unarmed person.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 1:02 PM

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Waterloo Schools have not asked us for a levy for years. We have had excellent leadership and staff who, despite a very tight budget, continue to provide a quality education and devotion to students. For $15.00 per month per $100,000 property value, we can keep this kind of local control by VOTING YES! By voting against the levy, voting no, we relinquish that control to the state, and our education system will be at risk of consolidation with another district or whatever the state mandates. We would then be at the mercy of politicians unfamiliar with our small community. Taxpayers saw the benefits for us when we were growing, and now we should do no less for our children. WATERLOO, PLEASE VOTE YES ON TUESDAY!!! It takes a whole village to raise a child. Together, we can remain that strong, united village who provides for our own.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 11:21 AM

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SRM77: The funding cuts are part of the OBAMANOMICS stimulus and recovery plan. Although Pres. Obama this past week laid-off his Jobs Czar, Mr. Jeff Imelt CEO of GE, and the Jobs Council...FarmerMom: Sounds like Same song second verse, It's for the kids! Don't you care about the children? Let us keep throwing money at a statewide school funding system that is both broke and corrupt. The levies are unconstitutional according to the Ohio Supreme Court. Why would I vote for something that is UNCONSTITUTIONAL? Our leaders are to uphold the constitution. The schools should teach the constitutions, both US/Ohio. If the PEOPLE (taxpayers) would stick together statewide like the unions do, we could make folks like Rep.Clyde and other politians (all parties) get serious, obey the constitution, and fix the funding problems. But most in Columbus are backed by the unions, just like at the White House. Passing a levy is like pouring water into a bucket with a small hole in it. The water lasts for a while, but if you don't fix the leak, you are going to be without water. Where can I get more water? I'll go back to the well (taxpayer). Get a reality check, The well is almost dry & empty... On March 24, 1997, Justice Francis E. Sweeney wrote for the 4-3 majority: By our decision today, we send a clear message to lawmakers: The time has come to fix the system. Let there be no misunderstanding. Ohios public school-financing scheme must undergo a complete systematic overhaul. Sunday March 25, 2012 11:10 AM Columbus Dispatch: by Jim Siegel and Joe Vardon. That was over 15 years ago. It is time for the people to quit voting on an unconstitutional funding process. Quit voting for levies statewide. Maybe Columbus will get the point.

Stop the INSANITY!!

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 10:43 AM

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Our teachers at Waterloo are not making millions (look it up the info is out there)!! The state & county have CUT funding to Waterloo substantially over the past two-three years all while mandating more via their unfunded mandates which they are not even sure how much it will cost a district nor how much time is involved in it BUT do it or else. You both make the statement to let the school go broke & borrow money until the state government figures it out. Well, that makes sense. Let our district borrow money that has to be REPAID, this is a LOAN not an open checkbook that does not have to be replenished; thus the levy dollars increase. You are not happy with 5.9mils for 5 years; so you are saying that you will be happy with double or triple that when the state comes in; that will definitely solve the I cant afford attitude ?? And based on all the government programs out there (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, heck the federal budget) they are all mixed up, short on funds, behind schedule and the list goes on; but these are the same folks you want to come in and help the district and community. REALLY???? You state this is a school problem, a state problem and a union problem, BUT in the end; it is a COMMUNITY problem. Look at property values, those will NOT go up if the state comes in to lend money or shuts down the district to merge with another. Why not try and use some of the negative energy flying around ALL these forums to come up with a way locally to fix our district issue, then maybe we can continue that trend and fix other local issues on our own; thus not having to rely on the government. If you actually listened to Kasichs presentation on Thursday night; it all looks AWESOME on paper. But we are NOT talking about an art project here, unfortunately there was no real guidance provided as to where our district falls on all those graphs and within all those words. Then there was this little side note that you may not have heard ~ depends on what the legislature approves and who knows what else is built in behind the scenes (there ALWAYS is more to the story; look at Health Care Reform). If you truly believe that you can balance the schools budget run for school board!! Or meet with the BOE, Dr. Hill, Mr. Carpenter and OR the Waterloo Community Action Committee (WCAC)and show them (HECK show us, the Waterloo Community,) where the dollars can be better spent. In amongst ALL of this negativity are currently 1200 kids that are in need of an education and a community that needs to find a way to become more involved and help them get it. We still have an entire staff of awesome dedicated teachers that truly care about our kids (even in amongst ALL this bashing). Show up at a meeting, show your face and provide a suggestion. WE ARE WATERLOO!! VOTE YES on 2/5!!

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 9:59 AM

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con't

HAVE TO PAY THE MONEY BACK. It's just a loan from the state, not a free lunch. Where's the sense in that?! Take some pride in our community, do what's right and get out to VOTE ON TUESDAY!

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 9:58 AM

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Holy moley, I can't believe the comments here. Anyone who has any interaction with Dr. Andrew Hill would have no question in their mind that he is an EXTREMELY hard working, dedicated, compassionate man with nothing but the best interest of the school at heart, as do the staff, school board, students and parents. No money is being wasted here, trust me. How can you live in a community such as ours and not want to see the children get a quality education? All that aside, if the state takes over, not only will we lose all control, we'll HAVE TO PAY THE MONE

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 9:08 AM

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"When you total all those savings up, that's well over $500,000 that these employees have saved for our district. Well over a fourth of the savings in the past two years have come from concessions by employees," Hill said.***** Maybe the employees (union) were given to much in the first place? Could that be a reason for the financial problems. As soon as a levy passes, the wage freezes, thaw, and new contracts will be had by all. By the time everything is said and done, the district will be in trouble again. Crestwood sang the same sad song. We are going broke! Don't you care about the kids? This is about the kids! Crestwood passed a levy in November, the union is giddy. Happy days are here again! The pay freeze is thawing, and guess what, the union contract expires 30 June 13, just in time for that new levy money. Timing is everything. Watch Crestwood/Union contract negotiations this summer and see what happens with the levy money. " Same song, second verse, could get better, but it's bound to get worse! Let all the school districts go broke! Then let the pin heads figure out how to finance the schools constitutionaly. It's insane to think levies are the way to go. They work until the money runs out. Then the school shames the citizens into voting for another levy, It's for the kids. It is the circle of insanity, and these folk are Educators? Stop the INSANITY!!! Fix the problem!

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 8:43 AM

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"Every year we're just dismantling this great program that people worked hard to establish. We're just taking it apart piece by piece," Hill said....................................well here's a clue...maybe you should try dismantling some of the compensations packages........Reduce what you are promising in contract..........

Yours is not a funding problem, yours is a lack of foresight and guidance...... How long has the district known things were getting tighter and tighter on the budget? Has the board taken this into consideration when in contract negotiations? I don't want to hear about all of the great sacrifices the unions have made.... yeah,they jump at a pay freeze. when frozen, cuts arent possible. They know it and the public knows it........ Meanwhile out in the real world many are dealing with real cuts the kind which really hurt a household budget and they are combined with the ever rising prices on essentials.... many in the community simply cant afford any more, actually they cant afford what they are already being asked to pay ....... Look at the story the RC printed yesterday concerning poverty rates increasing in Portage county..........Try putting the focus on education... every cut made thus far directly affected the children and their parents meanwhile those union employees are still doing just fine arent they? Lets spread that sacrifice around some.... Our Board Members are not doing their job. It's time to let the state come in because that local control they are so worried about loosing needs some serious guidance.

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anonymous Feb 3, 2013 5:59 AM

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Sorry nothing has changed. The administration is not listening.

I don't think the answer your going to get this time around is going to change either. It's still a "No" from this voter and everyone I've been talking to.

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